How to Build a Press Kit Around Your Book Review

A press kit is the package of materials you send when you’re pitching yourself or your book to media, bookstores, libraries, podcast hosts, event organizers, or anyone else who needs to quickly assess whether you’re worth featuring.

A professional book review is the cornerstone of a strong press kit. It’s the third-party validation that makes everything else credible. Here’s how to build around it.

The Core Press Kit Components

1. The review excerpt (your lead credential)

Lead with your strongest review quote. Choose 2-3 sentences that make a specific, concrete claim about your book’s quality — not generic praise. ‘A masterful debut’ is weak. ‘The courtroom sequences are as tense as anything in John Grisham’s early work’ is strong.

Include the full publication name as the attribution. ‘Manhattan Book Review’ reads as external, credible coverage. ‘John Smith’ reads as a friend’s opinion.

2. Book summary (150-200 words)

A tight, third-person summary of your book’s premise, main conflict, and who it’s for. Write this in the style of back cover copy — engaging, specific, and ending with a hook. Don’t write from the first person.

3. Author bio (100-150 words)

Third-person bio covering relevant background. For fiction, focus on what makes you qualified to write this specific story. For nonfiction, lead with your credentials and expertise in the subject. Include any notable past publications, awards, or relevant professional background.

4. Book cover (high-resolution image)

A 300 DPI JPG or PNG of your cover. Media outlets and event organizers need this for any print or digital use. Send it as an attachment rather than embedding it — it makes their formatting process easier.

5. Contact information

Your name, email, phone number, and publicist contact if applicable. Make it impossible to not know how to reach you.

How to Use Your Press Kit

Media pitching

When pitching book review coverage to local newspapers, radio stations, podcasts, or online publications, your press kit is the supporting material that accompanies your pitch. The pitch itself is a short, personalized email. The press kit provides context for the editor or producer who’s interested.

Lead your pitch email with your review quote: ‘As [publication] noted, [review quote].’ It establishes credibility before you ask for anything.

Bookstore pitching

Independent bookstore buyers receive hundreds of pitches. A press kit with a professional review from a credible outlet — especially a regional publication in their city — immediately elevates your pitch above the majority.

For a Chicago bookstore, a Chicago Book Review gives you a city-specific credential that speaks directly to their audience. For a Seattle bookstore, a Seattle Book Review is local credibility. The regional specificity matters.

Library submission

Public libraries receive review coverage submissions through their acquisitions process. A professional review — especially one that’s appeared in a recognized outlet — is often a deciding factor in whether a library acquisition librarian takes the next step.

For library pitching, note specifically the age range (if relevant), subject matter, and any awards or recognitions. Include the full review if possible, not just an excerpt.

Event organizers and festivals

Literary event organizers and book festival programmers select authors based on credibility and audience fit. A press kit that includes a professional review establishes credibility quickly. A regional review in their city’s publication is even better — it suggests your book is already relevant to their audience.

Formatting Your Press Kit

Keep it tight. A press kit that requires 10 minutes to read won’t get 10 minutes. The goal is to let someone assess your book’s credibility and relevant fit in 2-3 minutes.

One-page PDF version for quick review. Longer version available on request.

Use the review quote prominently — at the top or in a call-out box. It’s your strongest credential. Don’t bury it.

Include a direct link to the full published review. The person you’re pitching can verify the review exists and read the full context. Unverifiable quotes are a credibility risk.

Building Your Press Kit Before Launch

Ideally, your press kit is ready before your launch date, not after. This means starting the review process early — 3 to 4 months before launch for standard review turnaround times, 3-5 weeks minimum with expedited service. If you also need sharp back-cover or Amazon description copy, City Book Review’s blurb service delivers a professionally written 3-5 sentence blurb in 2 weeks, which can be ready before your full review comes in.

The sequence: finalize your manuscript, get your cover designed, submit for review, receive review, build press kit, begin pitching. That timeline works if you start planning it 4-5 months out. Authors who think about their press kit for the first time at launch are starting too late.

The review is your primary press kit asset. Everything else — bio, summary, cover image — provides context. The review is the credential that makes everything else credible to a media contact who doesn’t know you.

Getting Started

If you don’t have a professional review yet, that’s your first step. Submit your book for review now — the earlier in your publishing process, the more time you have to incorporate the review into your launch marketing.

Submit at citybookreview.com. Free editorial submission available for books published within 60 days. Standard paid reviews at $199.